Jan. 12, 2004 – Some chemicals in deodorants and other beauty products may play a role in the development of breast cancer, research shows1 published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology.
British researchers have discovered that parabens, chemical compounds used as preservatives and antimicrobial agents by the cosmetics industry, accumulate in the human body.
Philippa Darbre’s team at the University of Reading performed several analyzes on cancer tumor tissue samples taken from 20 women. Traces of parabens were identified in each case. In four of these twenty cases, the paraben level was so high that it could have a damaging effect on the health of the cells.
It is still poorly understood how parabens work in the body and can harm it. However, it is suspected that these chemicals mimic the behavior of estrogen, hormones that are a risk factor for several cancers in women.
Further research is obviously necessary before it can be said that parabens constitute a real danger to health. The researchers nevertheless suggest re-evaluating the current toxicological index criteria taking into account these new data.
As for the manufacturers, we defend ourselves against the use of dangerous products; according to them, parabens would prove to be quite harmless.
This is not the first time that we have questioned the impact of the use of deodorants, and more specifically of antiperspirants.2, on the development of breast cancer. A few years ago, a persistent rumor circulating by email made it even the main cause! Obviously, no serious study supported this hypothesis.
To date, no epidemiological research has established a link between deodorants and breast cancer. Rather, breast cancer is linked to factors such as heredity (family history), high estrogen levels, age, lifestyle and hormone intake.
Julie Calvé – PasseportSanté.net
According to BBC, Reuters, Wiley Interscience (Journal of applied Toxicology).
1. Harvey Philip W., Everett David J. Significance of the detection of esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens) in human breast tumors. Journal of Applied Toxicology 2004 Jan-Feb. Vol. 24, Issue 1 1-4. [Consulté le 12 janvier 2004]. www3.interscience.wiley.com
2. During the fall of 2000, an electronic message circulated to the effect that antiperspirants, by preventing the body from evacuating its toxins through sweating, caused breast cancer and were even the main cause, which ‘the Canadian Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society denied. (Source: Gobeil Julie. False alert, Protégez-Vous Magazine, October 2000.)
